Inside: Tongarlro, Walkato, Californian Rivers, Arnold ... ----------------------~ New Zealand oo.2 Canoeing Canoeist of the Year Spring 2000 Hugh Canard, Patron Contents Ron Wastney was multi spotters. His name appeared nominated Canoeist of in the dub's harbour race and river the Year at this year's race results. Ron's name carne up in Annual General Meeting. council circles as a frequent About NZ Canoeing 2 Hugh Canard writes of how Ron's spokesperson for recreation on our contribution to kayaking deserves local rivers. Who drove from Nelson Executive & Officers 2 wider recognition ... to Christchurch in the middle of "Ron is one of those people whose winter to attend the NZRCA President's Comment 3 passion for canoeing manifests itself Annual General Meeting? There in many ways. Ron instructs, was Ron again. Events 3 organises races, lobbies DOC, the local council, attends long boring Many of us take it for granted that North Island Consents Projects 4 hearings and leads river trips. His the rivers will always flow free, that interest in the sport is expressed someone will push our case to Paddling in the States 6 through the enjoyment of others. councils and government departments, get up in the dark and I first met Ron when he turned up hitch up a trailer load of boats and President's Confessions 8 at a Conservation Board meeting I drive to the pool, and write was chairing. He argued eloquently submissions when they would rather Trip Report 9 the case for allowing canoe races on be out there paddling. Lake Rotoroa in Nelson Lakes Letters 10 National Park. Later when I joined I think Ron sets an example to all of the Nelson Canoe Club, there was us who share a love for the outdoors Membership Update 10 Ron again, instructing and coaching with the simple joy of paddling a boat." Membership Form 11 Ron Wastnt)( in the Coast to Coast. Photo: Paul's Image Cmtrt New Zealand Canoeing, Spring 2000 (00.2) 1 Oamaru Mail Print NZRCA Executive & Officers About NZ as elected at the 2000 NZRCA AGM Canoeing Patron Access Hugh Canard Mike Savory [email protected] Wdlington Nnv Zealand Canoting is the official newsletter of the New Zealand Ph: 04-970 4864 Rccreat.ional CanocingAssociation President [email protected] (NZRCA) Inc. NZ Canoeing is Robin Rutter-Baumann published quarterly and distributed Christchurch Communications and Newsletter free to around 1,000 members of the Ph: 03-353 8451 Polly Miller NZRCA throughout New :lealand/ Wellington Aotearoa. [email protected] Ph: 04-802 5272 The views expressed in Nnv Zeal.tnJ Canotingare those ofthe individual Vice-President [email protected] authors and do not necessarily Sarah McRae represent those of the Executive ofthe Wellington Membership New :lealand Recreational Canoeing Ph: 04-9714118 Chris Sinclair Association. [email protected] Wellington Ph: 04 387 2778 NZ Canoeingwdcomes advertising from organisations associated with Treasurer [email protected] n:creational canoeing. Please contact us Fiona Mackay for our advertising rates, and find out Dunedin Webmaster how to show your products and Ph: 03-471 9211 Jonathan Hunt services to kayakers around NZ. [email protected] Christchurch Ph: 03-381 2800 Thanks to Hugh Canard, Ron Wastney, Robin Rutter-Baumann, Conservation [email protected] Wade Bishop, Robin McNeil, Earth MareeBaker Touch Adventures, Aoraki Polytechnic Wanganui Administration and the myriad ofe-mail Ph: 06-343 8800 Lynne Fuggle correspondents for their contributions [email protected] Christchurch to this issue ofNZ Canoting. May the Ph/Fax: 03-384 9301 rivers flow for you! Education and Safety [email protected] Janet Nicol Contributions of articles, trip reports, classified advertisements, and letters for Christchurch publication are gratefully received. 03-326 5581 [email protected] [email protected] Please send items to: The Editor P0Box284 Wellington Ph 03 802 5272 [email protected] The deadline for material for the Summer newsletter is 1st November 2000. All map references are to NZMS Infomap 260 Topographical series. Unless otherwise noted all material in NZ CaMn ngis © NZRCA. All rights reserved. 2 New Zealand Canoeing, Spring 2000 (00.2) President's Comment Events Robin Rutt"""&tumann, Presidmt Mangahao Release It was a great honour to be voted into Sarah's shoes as President at the AGM. This Spring's Mangahao Release is I can but hope I will be as effective as she has been (though I'm sure she'll do on Saturday 28th October, see you better as a Mum than I ever will). Thank you Sarah for agreeing to be Vice there... President and keeping me in line. Other changes at the AGM include the depanure of Ian Logie, Janette Kear and Colin Leitch all of whom worked Post-Release Party exceptionally hard this year. Colin and Janette have been Exec members for Saturday 28th October plan to well over a decade and for their contribution the AGM voted that they attend a party of all parties at River become life members of the Association. Janet Nicol of Christchurch is the Valley lodge. Bliss-stick kayaks & newest member of the Exec and her role is to oversee both the Safety and River Valley invite paddlers & like Education portfolios (what a woman). Mike Savory has returned to take on the Access portfolio and it's great to have him back. Aside from these minded people to enjoy an evening changes, the Exec remains the same which means we can continue to func­ of dance & merriment until the tion without the down time that occurs with too much upheaval. early hours (2 Bands/DJ.) The work that gets put in by Exec is amazing and this year we hope to The party will be followed by a become even more effective by involving more members in working parties mass paddle down the Rangitikei on specific tasks. After all, it is your Association and so it's best if you have a gorge the next day. Backup and good say in what happens. If you want to become involved in any NZRCA safety will be provided. matters just drop a line to the person concerned and make an offer. There will be free camping and On the conservation front lots is happening with the Tongariro Power river access, food, refreshments & Scheme in the Central Plateau, the Rangitata and Hurunui Rivers in Canter­ bury and the Arnold River on the West Coast - if you have a special interest lodge accomodation available at the in any of these rivers contact Muzz our conservation guru. The Safety and River Valley Lodge. Industry folk Education area received a fair amount of publicity last year with the spate of welcome to bring along their new drownings and soon we hope to have a report on these for you. Also on the toys. Any questions contact go is the subsidising of River Safety and River Rescue courses - if you would Richard 06 3881445 or like to get back more than your membership subs in a discount on these [email protected] courses contact Janet for details. Polly is always on the hunt for newsletter shorts so don't be afraid to put pen to paper and send something to her. Memorial Rodeo Meanwhile, Fi has prepared all our accounts for audit and come up with our A fun rodeo in memory ofNiamh first financial projections. is planned on the 2nd and 3rd Dec at Full James. More information Our biggest project this year will be to improve visibility of the service we provide and to increase member numbers. There's a two fold reason for this; will be available once sponsors are we believe you deserve to know what's happening, especially if you are established, contact Helen Brosnan expected to panicipate, and secondly fighting resource consents costs big 07 377 3203 or bucks and membership subscriptions are our income. [email protected] I had a dream last night about the Mangahao River- it's been the highlight NZFKC Team Selection of my early season paddling since I "discovered" it a few years ago. This is Events for Spain 2001 simply the best grade 3 I 4 run in the North Island and has a great atmo­ sphere with usually well over a hundred paddlers making it for this twice a These two events will be held at year event. The NZRCA have negotiated the spring release for the 28th Full James and the Kaituna. We October this year and a bonus release in Autumn to make up for missing one last year. You just gotta love a sport that still turns you on even after two have still to confirm which event decades and it's this passion that makes paddling and paddlers so unique. will be on which weekend (waiting to hear back &om Mighty River I believe the best and easiest way to ensure the aims of the NZRCA are met Power) Dates: Sat 20 I Sun 21 Jan is to tell our kayaking friends about the work that's being done on behalf of 2001and Sat 3/ Sun 4 Feb 200. all paddlers and invite them to join us in conserving our whitewater future. Contact Helen Brosnan 07 377 Later in the season we'll be organising a membership drive with a prize for 3203 or enrolling the most new members so start softening up your mates now. [email protected] New Zealand Canoeing, Spring 2000 (00.2) 3 discussions with Genesis. It should however North Island Resource Consents Project be recognized that the TPD scheme does not really hold a lot ofscope for gready Wade Bishop improving the kayaking opportunities on the rivers affected by the scheme.